Plural-lamp socket.



' No. 721,776. PATENTED MAR. 3, 1903...

B. BENJAMIN. V PLURAL LAMP SOCKET. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 71 1902.

10 MODEL.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PLURAL-LAMP SOCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 721,776, dated March 3, 1903.

Original application filed May 20, 1i398. Renewed August 10 1901, Serial No. 71,685. Divided and this application filed February 7, 1902. SerialNo. 93,010. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States,-residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi- '5 nois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Plural-Lamp Sockets, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This application is a division of my application originally filed May 20, 1898, Serial No. 681,202, renewed August 10, 1901, Serial No. 71,635.

I The subject-matter of this application is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of a plural-lamp socket embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a v sectional view on line 2 2,Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bowl-shaped contact-plate with the base removed. Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the contacts of the switch. Fig. 5 is z 5 a view of a modification showing insulatingbushings applied to the threaded shells, and

Fig. '6 is a similar detail view showing the threaded shells flush with the casing of the socket. Like letters refer to like parts in the several figures.

Upon the under side ofan insulating-base a is supported a bowl-shaped contact-plate 12, secured at the upper edge to the insulatingbase by means of screws a or any other desired manner. Upon the oblique side walls are mounted the threaded shells 6, adapted to receive the lamp-bases. Within this bowlshaped contact-plate and supported upon the downwardly-projecting portion of the base are the central contacts 0 of the lamps, which are suitably secured in position by means of screws 0 and which are adapted to be engaged by the central terminals thereof when they are screwed into the shells b. The bottom I) of the bowl-shaped contact-plate b is insulated from the oblique walls by means of suitable insulating-washers 11 secured thereto by screws 6 the latter being adapted to pass through suitable apertures in the plate b, so as not to contact therewith. This portion b of said plate is provided with a central hole, in which a key is is adapted to fit, flanges is being provided upon the key to prevent the longitudinal movement thereof dur- 5 5 ing rotation. The key is provided with a threaded end, in which fits a threaded shank 10 carried upon a vertically-movable bar of metal 10 which is guided in an opening 10 provided through the insulating-base a, the opening and bar being preferably square in cross-section, so that the rotation of the bar will be prevented. When the key is rotated, the bar k is thus raised or lowered, according to the direction of rotation due to the engagement of the screw-threads. .The upper end of the bar is engaged by a spring 10 connected with one terminal of the electric circuit, while the other terminal is connected with the binding-post d connected with the 70 contact-plate b through the insulating-base a. I have illustrated the socket adapted for the reception of four lamps, and a plate c is provided for each of the individual sockets to serve as the contact of the central lampterminal, and the inner ends of these contactplates 0 are adapted to be engaged by the sides of the bar 10 as the same is raised. The bar 10 is provided with a step-like edge consisting of steps 70 k is, and 70 which are shown more clearly in Fig. 4, wherein the surfaces of the bar k are developed into a plane, so that as the bar k is raised lamps are connected in circuit successively. The high step k first engages one of the contacts c and then as the bar continues to rise the next step k engages one of the contacts, and as the bar is further elevated a third step ongages a contact, and so on, thus connecting the lamps in circuit successively. When the 0 bar 70 is lowered, the steps break contact with the contacts 0 successively, thus cutting the lamps out of circuit one by one. A shell e incloses the socket, and removable cap e may be used, if desired, to inclose the key of the switch.

The bowl-shaped contact-plate forms an electrical conductor to convey the current to the ring-terminals of the lamp, thus dispensing with wiring, and at the same time it forms an efifective mechanical support without the provision of any additional supporting structure.

In Fig. 5 the threaded shells b are shown provided with insulating-bushings threaded thereon and serving to insulate them from the casing e and to assist in holding said casing in position.

In Fig. 6 the threaded shells are shown flush with the surface of the casing 6.

While I have shown and described one specific form of switch mechanism, I do not limit myself to that shown and described, as it is apparent that other forms can be used in place thereof.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a plural-lamp socket, the combination with an insulating-base, of a metallic bowl-shaped contact-plate mounted thereon, and having oblique side walls provided with a plurality of openings to accommodate the central lamp and socket terminals and carrying the contacts for the ring-terminals of the lamps, contacts for the end terminals of the lamps supported within said bowl-shaped contact-plate and placed opposite the openings therein, means adapted to secure the lamps in operative relation with said contacts, and a key or switch for controlling the circuit through said contacts mounted upon the bottom plate or portion of said bowlshaped contact-plate joining the lower or smaller ends of said oblique side walls, substantially as described.

2. In a plural-lamp socket, the combination with a suitable base, of a contact-plate mounted thereon having oblique side walls provided with a plurality of openings to accommodate the central lamp and socket terminals and carrying the contacts for the ringterminals of the lamps, center contacts for the lamps, means adapted to secure the lamps in operative relation with said contacts, and a key or switch for controlling the circuit through said contacts and centrally arranged with relation thereto, substantially as described.

3. A cluster-lamp fixture comprising an insulating-base, a plurality of suitably-supported lamp-holding devices and associated contacts associated with said base, a cover or casing and a switch for controlling the circuit through said contacts centrally arranged with relation to said lamp-holding devices.

4. A cluster-lam p fixture, comprising an insulating-base, a plurality of suitablysupported lamp-holding devices and associated contacts associated with said base, a switch for controlling the circuit through said contacts and a removable cover or cap normally inclosing said switch.

5. Acluster-lamp fixture, comprising an insulating-base, a plurality of suitably-supported lamp-holding devices and associated contacts, a switch for controlling the circuit through said contacts and carried by said fixture, and a cover for said fixture having an opening to accommodate said switch, substantially as described.

6. A cluster-lamp fixture, comprising an insulating-base, a plurality of suitably-supported lamp-holding devices and associated contacts associated with said base, a switch for controlling the circuit through said contacts, a cover for the fixture having an opening to accommodate said switch, and a cap or cover for said opening and inclosing said switch, substantially as described.

'7. A cluster-lamp fixture, comprising an insulating-base, a plurality of suitably-supported lamp-holding devices and associated contacts associated with said base,acentrallyarranged switch on the fixture for controlling the circuit through said contacts, a cover having a plurality of openings, one for each lamp, and a central opening to accommodate the said switch, substantially as described.

8. A cluster-lamp fixture, comprising an insulating -base, a plurality of suitably-supported lamp-holding devices and associated contacts associated with said base, a switch for controlling the circuit through said contacts, a cover havinga plurality of openings, one for each lamp, and a central opening for the switch, and a cap or cover for said opening and inclosing said switch, substantially as described.

9. A cluster-lamp fixture, comprising an insulating-base, a bowl-shaped contact-plate supported thereon, a switch mounted upon the lower end of said plate, and a cover for the fixture having an opening to accommo date said switch, substantially as described.

10. A cluster-lamp fixture, comprising an insulating-base, a bowl-shaped element mounted upon said base and carrying the contacts for the ring-terminals of the lamps, a switch mounted upon the lower end of said element, and a cover for the fixture having an opening to accommodate said switch, substantially as described.

11. A cluster-lamp fixture, comprising an insulating-base, a plurality of suitably-supported lamp-holding devices and associated contacts associated with said base, a switch carried by the fixture for cutting one or more lamps into and out of circuit, and a cover having a plurality of openings, one for each lamp, and another opening to accommodate the said switch, substantially as described.

12. A cluster-lamp fixture, comprising an insulating-base, a plurality of suitably-supported lamp-holding devices and associated contacts associated with said base, a switch carried by the fixture for successively closing circuit through said lamps, and a cover havinga plurality of openings, one for each lamp, and a central opening to accommodate said switch, substantially as described.

13. A cluster lamp fixture comprising a suitable base, a plurality of suitablysup- In witness whereof I have hereunto subported lamp-holding devices and associated scribed my name in the presence of two witcontacts associated with said base, a suitable nesses.

switch carried by the fixture and a cover hav- REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. 5 ing a plurality of openings one for each lamp Witnesses:

and another opening to accommodate said W. CLYDE JONES,

switch, substantially as described. M. R. ROCHFORD. 

